摘要：The present paper falling into the field of innovative management tools explores using the Total Quality
Management (TQM) tool in the SME sector in Slovakia, attempting to identify barriers to the use of this tool in the
given segment. TQM can be ranked among the innovative management tools that are under investigation and in our
contribution, we want to bring a new overview of the use of this tool. Our research was based on foreign research in
which the TQM management tool is at the forefront of use. On the other hand, we know from the research conducted
so far on management tools in our business environment that the use of innovative tools is relatively low. The present
research is based on the formulated hypotheses verified using statistical methods, namely the chi-square test of
independence. In this research, we worked with hypotheses arguing that there are statistically significant relationships
between the lack of personnel and financial resources on the one hand and the use of the innovative TQM
management tool on the other hand. These relationships were statistically proved because in both examined
hypotheses the expected value of p was lower than 0.05. We can, therefore, conclude that the lack of financial
resources and the lack of skilled labour are among the important barriers to the use of TQM. In the determination of
the third hypothesis, we assumed that managers could not agree on the establishment of TQM. This fact can,
therefore, contribute to its relatively low use in our business environment. We also consider the incongruity of
managers´ ideas as a barrier that may have an impact on the use of TQM, and these dependencies were examined
by the Chi-square independence test. In verifying this hypothesis, the p-value was calculated to be p˃0.05 proving
that this factor has no effect on the use of TQM and there is no dependency between these variables. In the present
paper, we also focus on juxtaposing the present investigation with the research conducted to date in the field of
innovative management tools. The present research is aimed at identifying barriers to the use of this management
tool in an SME environment and at presenting TQM as a modern innovative instrument to be used by companies to
manage and measure their performance. By using TQM, the company can align the financial and non-financial factors
together and thus increase its competitiveness and meet the expectations of investors and other stakeholders.
关键词：Total Quality Management; innovative management tools; small and medium enterprises;
performance
